Flexible coupling



C. L. RAYFIELD.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

APPLlCATlON FILED man. 19, 1918;

1 348, 1 84. Patentgd Aug. 3, 1920.

WETEEE== 11% L. RAYI'IELID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

" COUILIIIG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3,1920.

museum fled larch 1a, me. man I0. seam.

719 all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Ran-mm), a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible; Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a art of this specificatlon.

This invention as reference more particularly to a coupling for transmlttmg power angularly, and is particularly adapted for use where the relation of the two connected arts is variable although it is equally wel suited for the transmission of power where this relation of the connected parts is invariable.

An object of my invention is to provide a v couplin which will readily adapt itself to longitu inal adjustment of the connected parts apt vide a 0011' hng whic will readily in f itself to difl'erent angular adjustments the connected parts.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to provide a flexibl e couplin in which variable relation of the connecte parts is effected by the flexing or bending of elastic connecting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible connection in which there are no joints or sliding or frictional enga 'ng parts which wear and become loose m constant use of the coupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a couplin composed of a plurality of spirally formed leaves arranged to provide a yielt ing connection between the driving and driven parts, and which positively transmits the power from the drivin part to the driven part in any of the ositions to which the arts may be adjuste by reason of the flexi ility of the leaves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible coupling which is particularly suited for connecting the drive shaft of an automobile with the transmission and with the rear axle. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a flexible coupling which is simple and inexpensive and which is not liablQ get out of order.

Anbther object of m invention is to (pro- The invention also has other important objects which will up r from the following specification an the accompanying drawi s. i

The invention (in a referred form) is illustrated and described in the accompanyin drawings and specification.

n the drawings Figure 1 is a new showing portions of an automobile having my coupling applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a coupling constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

As shown on the rawings:

The reference numerals 1 and 2. indicate a pair of coupler plates, each of which may be provided with a hub 3, which may have the squared opening 4, to admit the squared end 5. of the shafts 6 or 7, or the hub 3, may be otherwise formed so that the plates 1 and 2. will turn with the shafts 6 and 7.

Intcrposed between the plates 1- and 2, are a plurality of circular leaf or plate springs 8, the number and length of which may vary according to the re uirements of use. In the present instance, have shown the coupling as composed of four circular leaf sprlngs, each making a complete circle, and in practice this is a convenient form in which to make the springs as they. may be made in a ring shape and then split radially. These springs 8, are arranged to overlap one another the greater portion of their length and have the opposite ends thereof fastened by means of the rivets 9, or in any other suitable manner to the plates 1 and'2, the points of attachment of the springs being spaced at equal intervals around the plates 1 and 2, for example, as shown in the illustration, in which each spring is fastened to the plate a quarter turn distance from the preceding spring.

With this construction, the plates 1 and 2, are capable of a variable de ree of separation, owin to the flexibllit of the s rings 8, an are likewisecapab e of varia le angular positioning and when the shafts are rotated, the angular relation is compensated for in the flexing of the springs 8. which serve at all times to positively transmit power from one plate 1, to the other plate 2, or vice versa.

The flexible coupling is particularly of the front and rear aii stant variation in the relative Yeoman .of engthwise,

the shaft both angularly and this go pling will readily permit hath angular 'an longitudinal relative movement without friction and ithene are no parts to wear and become loose due to the adjhstment.

lnEig. 1, which rillustrates my coupling 1 applied .to an automobile construction, 10,

' casing by means of ther'sprin'gs .tfor driving the automobile.

'the wear ax le 12, and

is the frame of the car; 11 a rear Wheel and :IE, Ithe sear axle which is connected 1B, with'the frame 10, so thatthe'timme 10, is resilientl supported by the wheels M. The re erence numeral '14, indicates *the difierential gear within which is provided suitdble earm for transmitting power from 'the shaft 5, to the rear Mile 1%, for driving the wheels 11-; and 16, represents a portion of the transmission case which 'is mounted on the frame 10, and connected with the engine This transmission case has a shaft T7,extending rearwardly therefrom to communicate power to a drive shaft 18, is interposed between the shaft 17, and the stub shaft 15, and connected in a flexible manner with each shaft so that the rear axle 12, is free to move relatively to the frame 10, without interfering with the transmission of power from the shaft 17, to the shaft 1'5. *lxt will be observed that vertical movement of the axle 12, relative to the [frame 10, not only changes the angudar relation of the drive shait 18, with the shafts l7 and 15, but there is also a shortening and lengthening of the distance betweenthe shafts 15 and 17, which has hereltofere been provided th s; of sliding parts in addition to the universal iili the use of my coupli as indicated win Fig;- :1, both the angular an longitudinal changes are provided for ynthout such slidmg members as the spring ,lgyvg. ,not on y flex so that the shaft may change relative position on tract and expan and permit the pry separation and approximation? of the shafts. i

The -0 eration of the device is than t to be quite obvious from the P eseription and any further explanation of theoperat'mn is therefore w I am aware that the details of construe tion may be varied through a wid'erange without departing from t e of this invention. 1 therefore do not limiting the patent granted otherwise t an necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention in a device of the class described, 'the combination of rotary members adapted to rotate about intersecting axes, and a plura'lity of overlapping circular Elite springs of even diameter interposed ween and connecting said rotary members, the poirts of attachment of said spring plates being spaced at equal intervals around said rotary members and separated 'lqws than a sermcircle, and each spring plate comprising a complete circle onl In testimony w ereof l have hereunto suhsrribecl my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

UHABLES L. RAKE-W11 Witnesses:

Crushes W. HILL, Jr, FRED E. Panama.

ularly, but will also con- 

